See also: my first post with audio from Shaolin morning prayers
Here’s another recording I made in the Grand Buddha Hall at the Shaolin Temple.
Distinctly I remember: it was my first encounter with this phenomenon. I had only just arrived a few days before: we were told to come join the monks in the early morning, and stand alongside them as they perform these ancient sacred songs. Continue reading
Each morning at the Shaolin Temple, the monks gather in the Grand Buddha Hall and perform (what we might describe as) morning prayers. During my visit as International Disciple in the Temple, I recorded a few of these sessions on tape.
In May 2018, I went on a journey to the Shaolin Temple.
Here’s part 2 of my notes. With a few pictures that I shot. And part 2 of the movie we made.
You’ll find part 1 in the blog section of Kung Fu Journey.
In the hearts and minds of any martial artist, the Shaolin Temple is the birthplace and source of Kungfu.
It is also the origin of Zen Buddhism.
For any practitioner of any art, it’s an invaluable effort to visit the epicentre of his practice – a pilgrimage. Continue reading
In May 2018, I went on a journey to the Shaolin Temple.
Here’s part 1 of my notes. Plus part 1 of the video we made.
You’ll find part 2 in the blog section of Kung Fu Journey.
Sometimes during an ordinary day back home, I miss being at the Shaolin Temple.
I hear still in my mind the tolling of the small bells underneath the corners of the roofs,
I hear the children chanting in their practice,
I smell the incense in front of the Great Buddha Hall, or the coal furnace being lit up in the morning.
Ever since I started practicing Kung Fu I have been following Master Yan Xin on YouTube. His videos are really inspiring and motivational. Master Yan Xin is the co-founder of Kungfu.life and is a 34th generation Shaolin disciple. He trained in the Shaolin Temple (Henan Province, China) from a young age, and in 2001 he started to share his knowledge and teach students in England. Now Master Yan Xin resides in Dublin, Ireland and continues with his passion for Kung Fu teaching.
When Master Yan Xin posted an announcement video that he was coming to The Netherlands for seminars, I got really excited! When I dropped the link in our school app group, Olaf, Maarten and Danny immediately agreed to come along. We ordered tickets for the first two seminars (both on the same day), because going multiple days wasn’t possible for us. In total there were 7 seminars spread over three weekends: